The Stars Group has entered into an agreement with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB Odawa), that provides the PokerStars and Fox Bet operator with access to Michigan’s online betting and gaming market.
The agreement with the tribe’s Gaming Authority grants The Stars Group first skin market access to operate real-money betting, poker and casino in the state, subject to license availability, state law and regulatory approvals.
In return, the tribe will receive a share of revenue generated from the igaming offerings. It already maintains two bricks-and-mortar venues in the state under the Odawa Casino brand, in Petoskey and Mackinaw.
“We are excited to announce this agreement with the Odawa tribe, which further strengthens our market access as we work to continue to build our Fox Bet business into one of the leaders in the emerging US online betting and gaming market,” Fox Bet chief executive Robin Chhabra commented.
LTBB Odawa tribal council representative Fred Harrington, Jr added that the agreement “places the thrill of world class sports betting and online gaming under every finger-tip sliding across a touch screen in the State of Michigan”.
News of the partnership comes after Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law sports betting and online gaming bills on December 20. Each bill allows tribal and commercial casinos to compete on an equal footing, and together are projected to boost Department of Treasury coffers by as much as $19m in the first year following legalization.
Australian sportsbook operator PointsBet also announced a deal with a Michigan tribe to provide online betting and gaming in the state today (6 January), signing a 20-year agreement with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.